So sorry doesn't even begin to express how bad I feel for not posting in so long. I'm in graduate school and am taking summer classes, and believe me they are NOT easy. Writing, and everything else I do has taken a backseat which stinks. But when I was finally ready to edit and update the story I couldn't find my flash drive it was saved on!

Needless to say I finally found it, and here is part 2!

Thank you to everyone who reads this and reviews, I can't tell you how much it means that you like something I'm writing for fun!

Hope to have the next chapter up MUCH sooner!


Chapter 10 part 2

The memory faded around Draco and the next thing he knew he was standing back in Dumbledore's office, Hermione stood across from him and wiped at her eyes. He didn't know what to say, there were so many questions he wanted to ask, so many things he wanted to know. However, he could tell Hermione was gathering her thoughts, obviously upset about something that he either missed or didn't understand.

The memory had seemed happy to him, yet Hermione stood before him looking like a breeze could knock her over. He had never seen her look so fragile before, she was always so strong, so confident whenever he saw her, even after the years of his taunting and teasing she had never looked so broken.

There was a long moment of silence, neither one of them moved, at last Draco opened his mouth but Hermione held up a hand and he closed it again.

"I know you must have a million things you want to say" she said a moment later, she paused and took a deep breath "I was going to show you the next memory right away, but there are some things you need to know first" Draco nodded not wanting to interrupt her thoughts. Hermione walked to the stone stairs a few feet away and sat down, Draco noticed that he was no longer required by the cuff around his arm to stand a certain distance from Hermione

"Don't get any ideas" he looked up as she spoke and saw her watching him "The spell works again as soon as either of us step out of this room" she said patting her pocket. Draco shook his head

"That's not what I was thinking" he said walking towards her, there was no room on the stair next to her without being uncomfortably close so Draco choose to sit on the floor in front of her. Hermione rested her head in her hands and stared at a spot above Draco's head. Finally she lowered her eyes and looked at him. It was at that moment that he knew he had no idea who Hermione really was but he had no time to focus on that, he was suddenly lost. In her eyes he saw the eleven year old girl who looked past him as she watched the owl deliver the letter that would change her life.


Hermione had watched him carefully, unsure of how much to explain. He was staring at her as she looked at him, when his eyes grew wide, the anger and hatred that was always so close to the surface seemed to fade away right then, and she knew that she made the right choice. She frowned, 'this isn't as easy as I thought it would be' she thought. She folded her hands in front of her and after taking a deep breath began

"I found out that day, that moment you watched, that was when I found out I was a witch. I had known I was different for, well for a long time. I remember not making many friends, and feeling like an outsider at school. I never knew why. And then, then there were the things that happened that I couldn't explain, the things no one understood." She paused "That picture that you held at my house" Draco looked back up at her as she continued

"I made- well I caught the tree on fire that year" she said a smile in her eyes "I was so excited to get that doll I was holding in the picture, and then, my cousins came over, and John, this one boy cousin of mine, took the doll and broke her. I remember coming into the living room and seeing her in pieces" she shook her head at the memory "I was so sad and so angry, John told me I was being a crybaby and that I was too old for dolls anyway, but he didn't understand, I had wanted that toy for so long, but mum and dad couldn't find it at any stores for my birthday that year, so when I got it… well I was so happy. Anyway, John was teasing me calling me a crybaby and I just felt this intense feeling and the next thing I knew his trousers were on fire" Hermione paused blushing slightly when she heard something she wasn't expecting. Draco was laughing. She looked up surprised, but sure enough he was sitting on the floor in front of her laughing

"You set your cousins pants on fire?" he asked a moment later his hands covering his mouth. Smiling she nodded.

"I once sent mums curtains up in smoke when I was five" Draco added a smile still on his lips "Of course" he paused "I suppose it was different for you" Hermione nodded

"John told my family that I broke my doll and then blamed him and that he backed into the fireplace and set his pants on fire, and in an effort to put it out knocked over the tree – which then burst into flames- before running outside and falling into the snow" Hermione sighed

"My aunt and uncle were furious, I remember they yelled at me, told me that it was a rotten thing to do to blame someone else for something that they didn't do. Of course I had no idea how John caught fire, and my parents didn't either. But after that Christmas my aunt's family was always to 'busy' to come for the holidays" Hermione fiddled with her watch

"But that wasn't the only time something like that happened" she finally continued "I-

"You know, lots of kids in the wizarding world do things like this all the time when they're little" Draco interrupted

"Well that's just it, I wasn't from this world, no one knew anything about magic, no one would have believed it anyway even if they did!" Hermione said exasperated "That's what you don't get, these things you take for granted, no one knew any of it for me. They all thought I was a freak, a loser, someone that didn't get invited to the other kids parties cause she was that 'weird Granger girl'" Hermione shook her head "I was so excited to find out I was a witch, I was so excited to get to go to a new school, to see creatures like dragons and unicorns, the things I read about in fairy tales. The idea that those sorts of things could exist, I loved the idea of waving a wand and creating something amazing. But most of all I loved the idea that no one would know me. The thought of a place that had lots of other kids that were just like me, was amazing. A place where no one called you names because you were different, a place where everyone was different, so no one cared if someone seemed a little odd."


Draco sat there, words spinning around in his head "weird Granger girl" "no one called you names because you were different" he didn't know what to say, he had called her every name he could think of, called her weird, teased her for being smart. All he had done was make her fears come true.

He tore her down, for no reason, other than the fact that he thought he was better than her because of his blood status. He thought back to the scene he had just watched in the kitchen, he was certainly no better than she. If anything he wished he had a home like that to go back to, someplace where others loved and cared about you, not about what you had done that year at school. Or which people you were friends with, parents who loved you even though you set your cousin on fire. Family that supported your hopes and dreams, regardless of what they were. Draco thought back to the other night and his conversation with Dobby one sentence in particular stood out at that moment,

"Your father only cares about status, it does not make a difference to a Malfoy if someone is kind, if he is not pure blooded, he does not matter"

Draco ran his hands through his hair, how could he have thought the same thing for so many years? Why was he blind to any other way other than his father's? Just then Hermione's voice broke his thoughts

"I was so excited to get my things, I put the list of supplies next to my bed and had them memorized. I was so excited when I saw the train the first time, meeting Harry and Ron on the train, I felt relaxed, they were both so nice. Everything I hoped for, other kids who were like me, and I remember Harry's glasses were broken, he told me it was because his cousin used to punch him, and I was so excited because I knew how to fix them. So I did, and neither of them called me a show off, or a know-it-all. I was already happier on that train ride than I had been in a long time." Draco tried not to think badly of Harry or Ron, but it was hard, he had hated the two of them right off the bat, but he knew that now was not the time to bring that up. Hermione was trying to explain her story, and he was determined to listen.

"That summer, when I found out, I made my parents take me to Diagon Alley right away. They bought me all the things I would need, and I took my birthday money and bought as many books as I could" Draco could picture the small girl he just met walking around Diagon Alley with her arms full of books, a smile tugged at his lips.

"I got books of spells and books about the history of magic, I wanted to know all that I could before I left, I didn't want to sound stupid in front of the others. I remember the first time I encountered the idea of a dark wizard. I ran to my parents' room, holding the book and climbed into their bed. I was crying, and told them I didn't want to go anymore. When they asked me why I told them 'because of Voldemort'" Draco looked at her in shock, not only did she say his name, but she knew about him before she came to Hogwarts "I had just read about Harry, I remember feeling so scared, a man could go and kill all those people, and even try and kill a little boy. What kind of world was I about to join? What kind of world had people thinking that it was ok to murder people because they weren't 'purebloods'. That was the first time I was really worried. I knew I was not a pureblood, I read enough to understand that I was what wizards called a muggle, granted I was a child who had wizarding powers, but no one in my family possessed magical abilities." Draco didn't like where this conversation was heading, but he saw no way of stopping it, nor did he have any right to. It was his fault after all, and he could do nothing but listen

"I read about what Voldemort did to those he deemed unworthy of possessing magic. He killed them, murdered their families, spoke about them as if they were trash. That's when I first came across that word. Mudblood, what pureblood wizards called those who could use magic but had no magic blood. I hated the name, hated how it sounded, I hated the reason it was even used, and most of all I hated that I was technically by the definition in the book, nothing more than a mudblood. I only hoped that people didn't still use that term, and that no one would say that to me at school. And no one did… not until second year. Not until you turned on me after I stood up for Harry and said 'how dare you talk to me, you filthy little mudblood' I remember it, I can never forget it. I wanted to run, run all the way back home to my parents. I wanted to cry, but I wasn't going to, I was prouder than that, then Ron tried to help… of course he didn't, but it was at that moment I knew that there were still wizards out there, that believed they were better than others, for no real reason." Draco started to talk but Hermione forged ahead

"You could do magic, but so could I, you know how to fly a broom, and albeit not as well as you or Harry, I do too. I know how to brew potions, re-pot mandrakes, ride a Hippogriff, I knew about Hogwarts before I even got here, knew that there are 142 staircases, that there were four houses, I know how to fix spells and potions that have gone wrong, I knew how to levitate things and what the unforgivable curses are, I know why they are used, I have watched as teachers and others that I have grown to love have been struck down by Voldemort. I saw Cedric come back dead because of Voldemort- did you know that your father was there that night in the graveyard? He was, he stood there and watched Voldemort try and kill Harry, Harry told Ron and I all about that night" Hermione could tell by Draco's expression that he had no idea his father had been there that night. She was surprised that he didn't, but she wasn't done talking yet

"I learned about the dark mark, and why wizards wear it so proudly, I know what a death eater is and I have stood face to face with them. I have fought against them, do you know that I watched Sirius die by the hands of your aunt, I watched as your father fought Harry over some stupid prophecy and I watched as Harry tried to stop him, as he tried to save the only family member he had left in his life. Do you even know that I was the reason we decided to organize Dumbledore's Army-" Hermione stopped short, suddenly her eyes filled with tears. Draco couldn't speak, hearing what she said was like being punched in the gut. She was right, and he was so wrong, he had it all wrong, all these years, and he never knew it.

"I think you need to see the next memory, now" Hermione said standing abruptly and walking past him to the Pensive. She took out her wand and proceeded to produce another memory. Taking a deep breath she leaned forward and fell into her worst nightmare.


Draco's head was spinning as he watched Hermione disappear into the Pensive. His father had been there when Voldemort returned to power, his father had fought against Harry, for what, a prophecy? It made no sense, and his aunt, his aunt had murdered someone. He thought he knew his family, but now standing in Dumbledores office, he realized that Hermione probably knew more about his family than he ever did. The thought was unsettling and he wished he could have more time to think, but he knew that he had another memory that Hermione wanted to share. He leaned into the Pensive and landed next to Hermione a moment later

The scene before him was strange and it took him a moment to gain his bearings. It looked familiar but he couldn't be sure. He heard a small cry and turned to see Hermione standing nearby. Her arms wrapped around her parents. He was confused, this was a memory, so how could they be hugging her.

"Recognize where we are?" He spun and saw Hermione standing a few feet away. He turned back to the three who where hugging and realized that this was a more recent memory, and that Hermione was much older than the first memory.

"I had come home at the end of our fifth year, my parents had come to Kings Cross to pick me up, and when we got home, this is what we found" Hermione motioned behind her and for the first time Draco took in the scene around him. He understood why it looked familiar; it was the same street they had stood on that morning, only this time the house that they had visited was standing in ruins.

"I don't understand" he finally said after staring for a moment

"I didn't either, none of us did" Hermione replied as he walked to her side, his eyes never leaving the house. "It wasn't until we went inside that it became clear" Draco looked at her, she wanted to go inside? Hermione had already started walking up the path, the flowers that had been so vibrant the last time they were here were dead, the stone walkway was twisted and gnarled, broken and jagged. The windows were blown out and the door had been thrown off its hinges, Draco paused as he approached the threshold of the house, unsure of what lay on the other side. Cautiously he peeked in, Hermione was nowhere to be seen and Draco felt his stomach clench. He knew it was only a memory but the house freaked him out nevertheless.

"Hermione?" he called tentatively

"Yeah, in here" he heard her sniffle from the other room, carefully walking through the hall he found her standing in the doorway to the dining room. The living room had been blown apart, the fireplace was shattered and the pictures that had been placed so lovingly lay in on the ground covered in broken glass. He bent and carefully pushed some of the ruble aside, he saw pictures of Hermione with her parents smiling at the camera on a vacation, Hermione squealing as she was pushed on the swing that hung outside, Hermione being held on her dad's shoulders so that she could put the star on the Christmas tree.

These were her memories, her family's life just strewn about, he found the picture he had looked at before and picked it carefully out of the glass. He held it up and suddenly saw that it was written on, though he couldn't make out the word. He stared at it for a while and was about to ask her what it said when the light from outside caught it and made the word crystal clear.

He dropped the picture as if it was on fire, his breath coming quickly; this was no ordinary break in. He turned slowly and saw Hermione standing in front of the china cabinet.

"Hermione?" he whispered, she shook her head tears clear in her eyes. He walked to her side and saw that everything had been destroyed in that room as well. The contents of the cabinet had been broken and smashed, the tiny birds where nothing more than dust and the plates were shattered. Draco noticed that Hermione had carefully taken one of the glass birds out and was holding it in her hands. He looked at it, it was yellow the tips of his wings were black and it had a little black beak, as well.

"They broke everything" she whispered and slowly moved her fingers, his heart dropped as he watched the little bird fell apart in her hands, "everything" she said as a tear fell. He reached out, to wanted to tell her he was sorry, but he didn't know how. Instead he wiped her cheek brushing the tear as it fell. She sniffed loudly and turned to face the kitchen

"There's more" she said finally and began to walk with purpose through the kitchen door and into the hall. Draco followed looking at the house that had been so full of love the last time they visited, now full of sorrow. Hermione was walking upstairs now and Draco carefully followed up the broken steps behind her. She turned right at the top of the stairs and opened the first door. The room was blue, and the bed had a purple blanket on it, a desk stood in the corner by the window and a shelf stood next to the closet. Draco walked in behind her and knew at once that this was Hermione's room. He imagined it had been beautiful, like the rest of the house, but it too had been gone thru, her belongings thrown about. He realized the shelf once held the books that were ripped apart on the floor in the middle of the room. He walked to them and lifted one of the covers. "Hogwarts a History" he glanced at the others and realized that they were the books Hermione had bought all those years ago when she found out she was a witch. All the books that she had read and re-read, trying to learn all she could about the wizarding world. He placed the cover back on the bookshelf, it looked all wrong to him, but he couldn't bring himself to toss it back in the pile. He turned to face the other side of the room, there were more pictures that lay torn apart on the floor and toys that Hermione must have played with as a child lay in pieces.

"I don't know what to say" Draco finally said, he turned to look at Hermione who had made her way into the room and was now sitting cross legged on her bed, she was facing the wall, Draco followed her gaze and felt ill at once. On the wall in the same writing that covered the picture in the other room. Written in cursive were the words: "You never should have been allowed to practice magic, now you and your family are going to pay." Draco looked back at Hermione who was staring at the wall, and carefully walked to the bed. He sat at the other end, his legs dangling off the side

"I'm sorry" he finally whispered. Hermione nodded

"It's not done yet" He looked at her in shock, what else could these people do to her family? What right did they have to destroy their home, to threaten Hermione? Just then the door flew open and Draco jumped, Hermione stood on the other side, tears running down her face, he heard her sob as she looked inside her room. Then as she stepped inside he heard a thunderous noise behind coming from the other side of the room. He stood and watched as the ruined books burst into flames, the light from the fire cast a glow on the surrounding walls. That's when he saw it, the word written over and over. It covered her walls, her book shelf, the pictures, even her closet, the words blazed bright and told Draco exactly why he was here, sitting back down he watched as Hermione's parent came into the room and cried hugging their daughter, clearly they knew the meaning of the word to. As Draco sat back down he noticed the bed, Hermione leaned to the side and he saw written clearly, just as it was everywhere else.

Mudblood.


Dumbledores office rushed into view as Draco fell backwards. He was shocked, disgusted and so confused.

"Death eaters" he heard Hermione whisper, her voice tiny and fragile. "They came to the house, I'm only thankful that mum and dad weren't home, or else- or else I just don't know what would have happened" she broke down at that moment and crumpled to the floor sobbing. Draco clutched the wall feeling as though he was going to be sick.

"Hermione I'm- I…" he trailed, how could saying sorry make any of this better, he walked to where she sat and did the only thing he could think of. Sitting next to her he pulled her to him and hugged her with all the strength he had. He felt her body collapse against his and could feel her shaking as she cried.

"I'm sorry" he whispered, "I'm so sorry"


She hated this, she hadn't meant to cry, she had tried to prepare herself, she hadn't thought that it would bother her so much. She hadn't been ready to see her happiest memory followed by her worst. It was all too much. The wounds were still to fresh. And then Draco kept apologizing, and now he was holding her, rubbing her back and smoothing her hair. But she didn't care; she hadn't been back to her childhood home in almost three years. It was not someplace that she or her family could ever go back to, and the memories were so overwhelming.

"Can I ask you something?" she picked her head up at Draco's voice

"Yeah, sure" she replied wiping her eyes, hating that her voice sounded so frail.

"When was that?"

"The summer in-between fifth and sixth year"

"Why?" the question was simple but Hermione knew it was a complicated answer. She pulled herself up, putting distance between the two of them and leaned back on her hands.

"Do you remember fifth year you joined that 'inquisitors' club that Umbridge put together?" Draco nodded "Well like I was saying before, it was my idea to start Dumbledores Army. We needed a teacher, a proper teacher, and we all knew that Harry was the best option we had. I convinced him that we should start the club, that we all needed to learn how to defend ourselves. So I planned everything, and that year we all started Dumbledore's Army. It was all that we had to try and protect ourselves, no matter how silly others thought it was, we knew we could count on one another. Then near the end of the year Harry had that vision about Sirius being captured by Voldemort so we all rushed to the ministry of magic. But it was all a trick and we ended up getting caught by a bunch of death eaters-

"And my father" Draco said quietly. Hermione looked up,

"Yes" Hermione said simply "and your father"

Draco played with the ends of his robe, as much as he didn't like to admit it, he knew that his father was a death eater. But he realized in his heart, he had hoped he was not the kind of person he learned he was today. And of course there was still so much that he didn't understand about the memory he just saw. Swallowing his pride Draco looked back at Hermione,
"Hermione I wondered-

"Mrs. Granger?" the two turned to see Dumbledore standing at the top of the stairs.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but I do believe that you and Mr. Malfoy are due back in class in a few minutes" Hermione turned and looked at her watch.

"Bugger" she muttered wiping furiously at her eyes. She stood and straightened her robes before turning to face Dumbledore

"Thank you Professor for all your help" she said, he smiled at her and nodded

"Glad to be of service Mrs. Granger" Hermione turned back and half smiled, Draco was sitting on the floor lost in thought, and while she knew he had other questions for her she knew better than to be late.
"Come on" he didn't protest, in fact he barely blinked but simply followed Hermione as she left the office.


He wasn't paying attention, his mind was reeling as they walked in the abandoned corridors. Hermione a few paces ahead of him checked around corners and hurried back towards the classroom. They were one hall away from the potions room when Hermione suddenly grabbed him and shoved him back the way they came pushing him towards the wall. Startled and confused he stumbled back

"What the hell-

"You, Blaise and Pansy, you got to class late" she hissed as she grabbed the cloak out of her bag and swung it around them with ease.

"Don't say anything" she whispered as the three of them walked around the corner.

"I told you Pansy, nothing happened, I just… couldn't sleep" he heard himself say, it was odd as he watched the three of them approach.

"You went to see her didn't you?" Pansy hissed, Blaise rolled his eyes

"Look, I've already told you a million times, nothing happened that night, nothing happened the other day, why are you so caught up on this?"

"I don't know! Why don't you tell me why you're so obsessed with her lately?" Blaise paused in front of the class and turned

"You do seem to bump into her a lot lately" he added

"Butt out Blaise" Draco growled. Blaise shrugged clearly used to this and leaned against the wall.

Under the cloak Draco was cringing, he knew what was about to happen and he knew that there was nothing he could do to stop it. Biting his lip to keep from screaming he stood and waited.

"Who say's I'm obsessed with anyone?" he asked stopping mid-stride, just a few feet from where he now stood concealed with Hermione

"Don't think that just because you called her a mudblood in front of everyone that things will go back to normal Draco, this isn't over" Pansy jeered

"Look, I told you that I don't want to do say that, ok, I just don't think it's right, and I really don't appreciate you pulling your wand on me when I told you I didn't want to say it!" He yelled. Under the cloak Draco heard Hermione gasp. She looked up at him and he shrugged before putting his finger to his mouth reminding her not to talk.

"But why?" Pansy whined "You used to call her mudblood all the time, and now… tell me what has she done to you Draco" she tried to hug him but he shrugged her off, Blaise snickered as Pansy looked down like a scolded toddler.

"Nothing, that's what I am trying to tell you, she hasn't ever done a thing! I just, I don't see the point in teasing her anymore." Pansy looked at him obviously shocked, Draco backpedaled quickly

"I just mean that nothing we do anymore bothers her?" he asked rather than said. Pansy thought about that for a moment

"I suppose" she replied, "but still, I don't think your father would like to know you're being nice to that mudblood"

"Who said anything about my father?"

"I'm just saying Draco, you should really think about who you want to be loyal to, your family, or her" with that Pansy sauntered off down the corridor. Draco stood a moment longer shock clear on his face.

"She makes no sense" he muttered to Blaise before they followed her into the classroom.

Hermione stood outside the potions classroom, completely floored by what she had just witnessed. Turning slowly under the cloak she looked at Draco just as a huge commotion broke out in the potions classroom. Obviously Draco had just spotted what Hermione had done.

"She pulled her wand on you in the great hall?" She finally asked, ignoring the yells now coming out of the classroom shock clear in her voice

"You're really that surprised? Did you not just hear her, she's loony." Draco replied trying to sound casual.

"So you didn't want to say it?" Hermione asked in disbelief

"Not really, no" The door flew open at that point and the two turned to see themselves being brought outside by Slughorn. Hermione watched for a moment as Draco struggled and sputtered in front of her just hours earlier.

"But what about in Potions today?" Hermione asked looking back at Draco "Clearly you meant it then" she said pointing over her shoulder where Draco was sitting on the floor trying to get the handcuff off.

"That," Draco blushed "that was a bit of an old habit sneaking up on me"

"I didn't mean it" he added quietly

"Really?" Hermione turned to look at him. He nodded.

"I… well I had a talk with- er- well someone… someone special the other night, and he kind of cleared my mind a little" Draco touched his nose where it had been broken "cleared my sinuses too" he muttered

"Sorry?" Hermione asked

"Nothing, it's just," Draco sighed "I don't know what to do, Hermione," he paused after saying her name, listening to the way it sounded. "There's a lot that I learned today, and I just need a little more time to figure it all out"

"Time's up Draco" Hermione said quietly as she watched the two of them disappear in the past, Hermione pulled the cloak off and shoved it back in her bag. Draco didn't know what to say, how was he supposed to make a decision so quickly, turn his back on everything he had know, but then again, how could he continue to support those people who did this to someone who did nothing wrong. He watched as Hermione made her way to the door to Slughorns classroom, she paused with her hand on the door knob

"you know my story now, what you decide to do next, is your call" she said quietly before she turned and walked into the classroom leaving Draco standing alone, and for the first time in a long time, he didn't know what was right.